Minor footballers too strong for Longford

DUBLIN 6-12 LONGFORD 0-5

Dublin cruised into the Electric Ireland Leinster MFC semi-finals following this 25-point quarter-final victory over Longford in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

After a slow start by both sides the Dubs eventually found their feet and by the break were leading 1-6 to 0-1.

The game went scoreless for 14 minutes before Darragh Conlon broke the deadlock with a fine point from play.

Within a minute Longford had equalised through Joseph Hagan but it was to be their only score of the opening half as Dublin took control.

Points from Ross McGarry, two from Niall O'Leary and two from James Doran saw Dublin quickly move into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead by the 25th minute.

Then came the only goal of the opening half when McGarry fisted a pass from Conlon to the net to give his side a eight-point intervalst lead.

The second half was mostly one-way with Sean Hawkshaw pointing form play on the restart.

While Longford did not carry a great scoring threat the Dublin defence and midfield worked hard with Eoin O'Dea getting forward to slot two points, one of either foot.

Their work-rate and communication was good with Liam Flatman, Kieran Kennedy and Neil Matthews to the fore while Longford were forced into trying for scores from long-range on many occasions.

Keeper David O'Hanon's kickout were very good and especially in the second half with the breeze behind him he put his team on the front foot with a very accurate placement of the ball.

Within four minutes Hawkshaw had scored Dublin's second goal when he won a long angled ball from Doran before turning his man swiftly and setting off for goal - he only had one thing on his mind as the Nh Mearnog man fired to the net.

Eoin O'Dea's 40th minute point made it 2-8 to 0-3 before his Na Fianna team-mate Doran raced through on goal and slide the ball to the corner of the net.

Dublin could unleash pace off their bench in the form of Adam Byrne and James Madden, who was returning from a long lay-off.

Both contributed to the scoring tally as did fellow sub David Lacey.

Byrne scored 1-1 while Madden raised a green flag immediately on his introduction.

In between McGarry grabbed his second goal as Dublin join Kildare, Louth and Wexford in the provincial semi-final draw this Tuesday night.

SCORERS – Dublin: R McGarry 2-2, J Doran 1-2, S Hawkshaw, A Byrne 1-1 each, J Madden 1-0, E O’Dea, N O’Leary 0-2 each, D Conlon, D Lacey 0-1 each. Longford: E Keogh (0-1f), J Hagan, S Farrell, D Farrell (0-1f), R O’Connell 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: D O’Hanlon; D Maher, P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, L Flatman; K Kennedy, N Matthews, E O’Dea; D Ryan, M Tracey; N O’Leary, J Doran, D Conlon; C Archer, S Hawkshaw, R McGarry. Subs: A Byrne for O’Leary (39), K Lynch Bissett for Conlon (44), D Lacey for Archer (49), G Nangle for Kennedy (52), D Deneher for O’Dea (56), J Madden for Hawkshaw (58).

LONGFORD: J Fox; E Keogh, G Flynn, K Gilmore; N Farrelly, PJ Masterson, C McKeon; P Molloy, C Reilly; J Hagan, S Farrell, R O’Connell; D Farrell, K Kenny, D O’Brien. Subs: P Duggan for McKeon (14, BC), A McGuire for O’Brien (38), J McCormack for Duggan (40), C McElligott for Kenny (47), R Claffey for Reilly (50), M Brady for O’Connell (53).

REF: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).